Abstract:

A system for creating, using, and disseminating audio/video clips on a
mobile device and in other contexts is disclosed.

Claims:

1. A method for generating a ringer on a mobile computing device,
comprising:selecting a track;determining if a user owns full track rights
for that track;generating, on a mobile computing device, a ringer when
the user has the full track rights;previewing the ringer; andpurchasing
the ringer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the ringer further comprises
enabling a user to identify a starting point within said track for the
ringer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the ringer further comprises
enabling a user to identify an ending point within said track for the
ringer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the track is an audio/video track.

5. A system for generating a ringer, comprising:a mobile computing device
configured to enable a user to select a track;a server coupled to said
mobile computing device over a wireless network, said server configured
to determining if said user owns full track rights for that track;said
mobile computing device further configured to generate a ringer when the
user has the full track rights, to enable the user to preview the ringer,
and to enable the user to purchase the ringer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the track is an audio/video track.

7. A method for disseminating a clip over a social network,
comprising:generating a clip wherein the clip is less than a full piece
of content;storing said clip on a first computing device;transmitting
said clip to a second computing device using a social network; andplaying
said clip on said second computing device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing an option on said
second computing device to purchase said clip.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing an option on said
second computing device to purchase the full piece of content from which
said clip was generated.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing an option on said
second computing device to generate a second clip.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said clip is an audio/video clip.

12. A system for disseminating a clip over a social network wherein the
clip is less than a full piece of content, comprising:a first computing
device configured to generate and store a clip;a second computing device
coupled to said first computing device over a network, wherein said first
computing device is configured to transmit said clip over said network to
said second computing device using a social network;wherein said second
computing device is configured to play said clip.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said clip is an audio/video clip.

14. A method for automatically propagating a clip to a plurality of
computing devices wherein the clip is less than a full piece of content,
comprising:generating a clip;storing said clip on a first computing
device;transmitting said clip from said first computing device to a
second computing device;transmitting said clip from said first computing
device to a third computing device;incorporating at least part of said
clip in an application running on said second computing
device;incorporating at least part of said clip in an application running
on said third computing device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said application running on said
second computing device is a social network website.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said application running on said
second computing device enables a user to use at least part of said clip
as a ring tone on a mobile device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said clip is an audio/video clip.

18. A system for automatically propagating a clip wherein the clip is less
than a full piece of content, comprising:a first computing device for
generating and storing a clip, said first computing device configured to
automatically transmit said clip to a second computing device and a third
computing device;said second computing device configured to incorporate
at least part of said clip in an application running on said second
computing device; andsaid third computing device configured to
incorporate at least part of said clip in an application running on said
third computing device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said clip is an audio/video clip.

20. A method for utilizing a set of data, comprising:initiating
communication from a first computing device to a second computing
device;obtaining a set of data from a third computing device and storing
said set of data on said second computing device in response to the
initiating step, wherein said set of data is associated with said first
computing device;performing an action that utilizes all or a portion of
said set of data on said second computing device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said set of data comprises an
audio/video clip.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said third computing device comprises
a server.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said server hosts a social networking
website.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said second computing device comprises
a mobile handset.

25. A system for utilizing a set of data, comprising:a first computing
device;a second computing device;a third computing device;wherein said
second computing device is coupled to said first computing device and
said third computing device over one or more networks or links;wherein
said second computing device is configured to store a set of data
obtained from said third computing device in response to a communication
initiated by said first computing device to said second computing device,
wherein said set of data is associated with said first computing device;
andwherein said second computing device is configured to perform an
action that utilizes all or a portion of said set of data.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said set of data comprises an
audio/video clip.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said third computing device comprises
a server.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said server hosts a social networking
website.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein said second computing device comprises
a mobile handset.

30. A method for disseminating a clip to a mobile device,
comprising:generating a clip wherein the clip is less than a full piece
of content;storing said clip on a first computing device;transmitting
said clip to a second computing device, wherein said second computing
device is a mobile deviceplaying said clip on said second computing
device.

34. A system for disseminating a clip to a mobile device wherein the clip
is less than a full piece of content, comprising:a first computing device
configured to generate and store a clip;a second computing device coupled
to said first computing device over a network, wherein said first
computing device is configured to transmit said clip over said network to
said second computing device and said second computing device is a mobile
device;wherein said second computing device is configured to play said
clip.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said clip is an audio/video clip.

36. A method for disseminating a clip from a mobile device,
comprising:generating a clip wherein the clip is less than a full piece
of content;storing said clip on a first computing device, wherein said
first computing device is a mobile device;transmitting said clip to a
second computing device;playing said clip on said second computing
device.

40. A system for disseminating a clip to a mobile device wherein the clip
is less than a full piece of content, comprising:a first computing device
configured to generate and store a clip, wherein said first computing
device is a mobile device;a second computing device coupled to said first
computing device over a network, wherein said first computing device is
configured to transmit said clip over said network to said second
computing device;wherein said second computing device is configured to
play said clip.

[0003]The proliferation of cellular phones and other mobile devices with
phone capabilities has led to a ring tone business where companies
compete to provide ring tones. Currently, the ring tone market is as much
as $1 billion dollars per year. There are several known techniques for
getting a new ring tone and/or for creating a new ring tone. A ring tone
sometimes is referred to as a ringer.

[0004]For a user to obtain a new ring tone, the user can often browse on a
computer (not the mobile device) to a particular website from which the
user can search for and select a ring tone. Once the user has selected
the ring tone (often with the ability to listen to the ring tone before
purchase), the user pays for the new ring tone and enters the phone
number of the user's mobile device. Once the purchase is complete, the
website sends a well known SMS message to the mobile device wherein the
SMS message contains an embedded link to the selected ring tone on a
wireless access protocol (WAP) site from which the ring tone may be
downloaded. Thus, once the mobile device receives the SMS message, the
user can click on the embedded link and then download the ring tone to
the mobile device. One significant limitation with this approach is that
it is often not possible to listen to the actual ring tone on the mobile
device itself until after the ring tone is already purchased. In
addition, the process of purchasing the new ring tone is a slow,
multistep process which may cause a user to abandon the effort to
download and then pay for the ringer.

[0005]For a user to create a new ring tone, the user may own a particular
song/track and then use song editing equipment/software on a personal
computer or the like to select a portion of the song/track and then
generate the ring tone. There are also commercial services that provide a
website that allows the user to create his/her own ring tone based on a
track/song owned by the user or purchased by the user during the
generation of the new ring tone. Once the ring tone is generated (either
on the computer or at the website), the user must then download the new
ring tone to the mobile device as before which complicates the process
unnecessarily.

[0006]Mobile device users often choose their ring tone to reflect their
musical taste or personality. It identifies the individual to such a
degree that the user's colleagues eventually will know that it is the
user's mobile device (as opposed to someone else's mobile device) that is
ringing based solely on hearing the user's ring tone. Because a ring tone
can become a personal identifier for the user, it would be desirable for
the user to be able to use that ring tone as a personal identifier in
contexts other than the ringing of the user's mobile device. A ring tone
can more generally be considered to be an audio/video clip, where the
audio/video clip can include audio content (as in a traditional ring
tone), video contact, or both.

[0007]The prior art also includes social networking websites available on
the Internet, such as Facebook® (www.facebook.com) and myspace®
(www.myspace.com).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008]One aspect of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus by
which a user of a social networking website can share a customized
audio/video clip with other users of the social networking website. This
would allow the other users to hear/see the user's customized audio/video
clip, and the website optionally can provide those users with the option
to build their own customized audio/video clips, to purchase the user's
audio/video clip, or to purchase the entire content piece (e.g., song)
from which the audio/video clip was taken.

[0009]Another aspect of the invention is to use a customized audio/video
clip as a personal identifier in other contexts. For example, when a
first user sends an email or Instant Messenger message to a second user,
the first user can send his or her customized audio/video clip along with
that email or message, such that the second user hears/sees the first
user's customized audio/clip when the email or message arrives. Much like
a ring tone on a mobile device, the use of a customized audio/video clip
in this context will alert the second user that the first user is sending
a communication to him or her.

[0010]Another aspect of the invention is to provide a single location for
a user to modify or change his or her customized audio/video clip and to
automatically propagate the new clip to a plurality of locations on the
Internet or other network where a different clip previously was used,
such as on a facebook® user page or in the user's email server.

[0011]Another aspect of the invention is to enable a receiving mobile
device to identify the calling device (such as through the prior art
"caller ID" feature), and to then find and obtain data associated with
that device or the caller who is operating the device from a social
networking website or other data repository. The data can include a
customized ringtone that the caller previously created, a photo of the
caller, or other information or data regarding the caller.

[0012]Thus, it is desirable to provide an apparatus and method that
permits a user to create, use, and disseminate a ringtone on a mobile
device, and more generally, to create, use, and disseminate a customized
audio/video clip within a social networking website and in other
contexts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a ringer generation system;

[0014]FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams of a method for ringer generation;

[0015]FIG. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate examples of a user interface for an
implementation of the ringer generation system implemented on a mobile
device;

[0016]FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a content system that may include
the ringer generation system; and

[0017]FIG. 6 illustrates an example of another content system that may
include the ringer generation system.

[0018]FIG. 7 is a diagram of two users connected over a social network.

[0019]FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a user interface for an
implementation of the social network activities relating to audio/video
clips.

[0020]FIG. 9 is a diagram of a system that enables a user to automatically
propagate his or her customized audio/video clip to a plurality of
applications.

[0021]FIG. 10 is a diagram of a system that enables a computing device to
obtain data concerning a user from another computing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0022]One embodiment is particularly suitable for generating an audio
ringer for a mobile phone on the mobile phone itself, and it is in that
context that a system and method are described for illustration purposes.
However, the system and method may also be used to generate a ring tone
for other mobile computing devices with phone capabilities and may be
used to generate different ring tones, such as video ring tones or
audiovisual ring tones.

[0023]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a ringer generation system 20. The system may
include a mobile computing device 22, such as mobile phone in the
illustrated example, a generator unit 24 that can communicate and
exchange data with the mobile computing device over a network 26, such as
a cellular phone network in the illustrated example, and the generator
unit 24 is in turn capable of communicating with and exchanging data with
a computing device 28. The mobile computing device may be a processing
unit based device with phone capabilities and the typical components of a
device, such as a PDA, mobile phone, wireless email device (such as the
Blackberry), or other handheld device that has wireless connectivity to
be able to communicate with the network 26. The computing device 28 may
be a processing unit based device, such as a server computer, personal
computer and the like.

[0024]In the ringer generation system, the mobile computing device 22 may
further include a memory 30 that may further contain a generator module
32 and a store 34 wherein the generator module 32, may be implemented,
for example, with a plurality of lines of computer code that are executed
by the processing unit of the mobile computing device, and may be used to
generate a new ringer on the mobile computing device. In one embodiment,
the generator module may be a piece of code comprising a plurality of
lines of JAVA language computer code (a JAVA language application) that
are executed by a Java engine that is already stored on the mobile
computing device. The store 34 may be, for example, a software based
database that allows the user of the mobile computing device to store one
or more pieces of content that may be played by the mobile computing
device such as music, video, etc. as well as the ringers that are
generated by the generator module.

[0025]The generator unit 24 may be, for example, a server computer, that
may further comprise a generator 36 that performs some of the functions
and operations of the ringer generation method described in FIGS. 2-3 as
described below in more detail. For example, the generator 36 may
determine if a full track of the ringer content is available either in a
content store 37 in the generator unit 24 and/or in a content store 38
associated with the computing device 28. The generator unit may also
include the ability to communicate with the mobile computing device and
deliver data to the mobile computing device as described in more detail
below. Using the above system, the user of the mobile computing device
optionally is able to generate a new ringer directly on the mobile
computing device, adjust the characteristics of the new ringer, preview
the ringer before purchase, and then download the new ringer.

[0026]In one illustrative embodiment, the generator module allows users to
make personalized ringers for their mobile computing devices directly
from their mobile computing devices. The generator module allows the user
to use their own music track (in the content store 38 in the computing
device 28) or one from a catalog of songs (in the generator unit store
37) to generate the ringer. The user may be given a visual representation
of the track and the user then chooses the start and end points of the
ringer. The user then receives a ringer that they can use throughout
their mobile computing device.

[0027]FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams of a method 40 for ringer generation. The
method may be carried out by the generator module 32 and the generator
unit 24 shown in FIG. 1. In the method, the user of the mobile computing
device may request to make a new ringer based on a particular piece of
content, such as a particular track of music. This request is
communicated to the generator unit that determines if the particular
track is available (42) either in the store of the generator unit and/or
in the computing device store. Since the upload speed of the mobile
computing device is typically slow so that it is quite time consuming to
upload an entire song to the generator unit (to determine if the track is
available) for processing, the mobile computing device may instead
generate a digital signature for the track. The digital signature may be
used by the generator unit to search the content store to determine if
there is a match for the requested track in the content store in either
the generator unit or the computing device. This allows the service to
ensure that the end user had the digital rights (DRM) or a legitimate
copy of the track/song so that the system and method can enable the
ringer editing capability. This service is not possible under current
rights agreements without a copy of the full track. In one example, the
user may browse a user interface to select a particular track/song and
then locate that song/track.

[0028]If the particular track is not available, the method is completed.
On the other hand, if the track is available, then the full track is
obtained by the mobile computing device (44) wherein the full track is
downloaded from the generator unit since the full track on the mobile
computing device (if available) will be of lower resolution and poorer
quality. Once the full track is available at the mobile computing device,
the generator module in the mobile computing device may be used to
generate a ringer (46).

[0029]During the ringer generation, the generator module may allow the
user to select a portion of the track (48) and then modify certain
characteristics of the track (50). The generator module may also preview
the ringer (52) on the mobile computing device. If the preview is not
acceptable (54) (which is a preview of the actual ringer), the method
loops back to any prior process so that the user can revise and redo the
ringer. If the ringer is acceptable, then the method is completed and the
ringer is purchased by the user and the user can use the ringer. In
addition, a user may move between any process in FIG. 3 and any other
process in FIG. 3.

[0030]The system and method may be used to generate an audio ringer
(described above). It may also be used for video ringers, a ringer linked
with an image or an audiovisual ringer. The song/track used to generate
the ringer may be the songs/tracks already stored in the mobile computing
device, a catalog of songs/tracks maintained by the generator system (so
the user can purchase the full track and then create the ringer) or
songs/tracks located on the computing device owned by the user.

[0031]FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate examples of a user interface for an
implementation of the ringer generation system implemented on a mobile
device. Most mobile computing devices have an input device, such as a
four way keypad that may be used as the primary interface device for the
ringer generation method that allow the user to create and/or modify a
ringer. The input device permits the user to edit, zoom, playback, and
download the track and/or ringer. Optionally, when doing zooming/editing
of the track profile, the digital data representing the track is
downloaded to the mobile computing device from the generator unit (rather
than having the processing unit of the mobile computing device generate
the visual representation of the track) so that the zooming and/or
editing can be done without using the limited CPU of the handset.

[0032]As shown in FIG. 4A, a user interface 60 allows the user, using the
4 way input device to select the portion of the track for use as the
ringer. A window 61 is superimposed over the profile of the track that
shows the portion of the track currently selected by the user. The user
interface may also magnify the left edge of the track profile when the
user adjusts the starting point of the ringer as shown by the window 61.
The user interface may also magnify the right edge of the track profile
when the user adjusts the length of the ringer as shown by the window 61
and then play a few seconds at the end of the ringer so that user can
determine if the end is the appropriate location.

[0033]FIG. 4B shows a user interface 62 that allows the user to adjust
certain other characteristics of the ringer such as a fade in or a fade
out or various other characteristics of the ringer. FIG. 4C shows a user
interface 64 that allows the user to preview the actual ringer on the
mobile computing device before purchasing the ringer. In typical systems
using WAP pages, it is not possible to permit a preview since the
download from the WAP page would allow the user to preview and then keep
the ringer without payment. In the ringer generator system, the ringer is
streamed and is not permanently stored (downloaded into the memory and
used by the JAVA code) so that it can be previewed without losing the
ability to charge for the ringer. As shown in the series of user
interfaces, the generator system permits the ringer generation and
download to occur from a single series of user interfaces so that it is
easier for the user to generate, preview and then download the ringer.

[0034]In an alternative embodiment, after viewing the representation of
the fulltrack and selecting the start and end points of the track to be
played when the phone rings as shown in FIG. 4A, the user can store the
location of the start and end points for the ringer on the mobile
computing device. Then, the mobile device can be modified to use the
start and endpoints to playback only the portion of the fulltrack
specified without the need to make another copy of the full track on the
mobile computing device. In this alternative embodiment, if the user
already owns the full track for the song being used to make the ringer
and the full track is stored on the mobile computing device, the ringer
generator does not need to make another copy of the full track of the
song in order to playback the ringer. In this alternative embodiment, the
ringer is played by playing the portion of the full track (identified by
the stored start and end points of the ringer) whether the song uses DRM
or not. Thus, the user does not need to pay for the mechanical and music
rights to another copy of the full track in order to specify a new
ringer.

[0035]FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a content system that may include
the ringer generation system. As in the prior art, a user stores digital
content (such as music, video, etc.) on computer 28. However, in this
embodiment, the user downloads the digital data from computer 28 to
mobile computing device 22 in a wireless fashion over a wireless
communication path. Mobile computing device 22 may be a PDA, mobile
phone, wireless email device (such as the Blackberry), or other handheld
device that has wireless connectivity to be able to communicate with the
computer 28 and download digital content from the computer 28. Computer
28 communicates with a device 24, such as a server computer, over network
29. Network 29 can be any type of network, such as the Internet, and can
be hardwired, wireless, or some combination of the two. Computer 28 runs
a software application that allows a user to catalog and organize the
digital content of the user. The device 24 can be accessible over the
Internet (such as through a URL address). The device 24 is shown in FIG.
5 as a single device. However, it is to be understood that the device 24
can instead comprise multiple devices, such as multiple servers.

[0036]Mobile computing device 22 connects to device 24 over a wireless
network 26. Wireless network 26 can be a cellular telephone network, a
WiFi network (such as an 802.11 network), a wireless data network (such
as EV-DO or EDGE), or any other wireless network. It is to be understood
that wireless network 26 need not connect directly to server device 24,
but instead can connect through an indirect means such as by the Internet
or through another network. The ringer generator system shown in FIG. 1
can be integrated with this content system.

[0037]FIG. 6 illustrates an example of another content system that may
include the ringer generation system wherein the content system allows a
mobile computing device 22 to share content among a plurality of
computing devices wherein the mobile handset has the content store 71 and
playlists 72. As shown, the system permits the mobile computing device 22
to synchronize its content with a plurality of computing devices
281, 282, . . . , 28n and each computing device maintains
a content store 74 and at least one playlist 75 for the content on the
mobile handset. For example, in a family in which the different family
members each have their own computing device, the mobile handset of a
particular family member can be synchronized to the multiple computing
devices so that the content purchased by each member of the family can be
shared. Similarly, the system permits multiple mobile handsets to
synchronize their content with a single computing device (such as might
be the case of a family) or multiple mobile handsets can synchronize
their content with multiple computing devices. Thus, the system permits
the computing devices to effectively share content between the computing
devices.

[0038]In another embodiment, a user can share a customized audio/video
clip (such as a ring tone) with other users over a social networking
website such as facebook® or myspace®. Social networking websites
have become popular in recent years and allow users to register with the
website and form social networks of friends and colleagues. Users in a
social network can then interact online by exchanging messages, photos,
and other forms of information. Each user typically is given a personal
page within the social networking website where the user can post
information about himself or herself, such as the names and photos of the
user's friends who are members of the social networking website, a
description of the user's background, the user's opinions on a variety of
issues and media content, and other information.

[0039]With reference now to FIG. 7, User A operates computing device 80.
User A creates an audio/video clip 90 on computing device 80 using the
methods illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 or by using a different method, such as
the prior art method of creating ring tones on computers by accessing a
website over a desktop or notebook computer. Audio/video clip 90 can be
an MP3 file, other MPEG file, JPEG file, or other type of file that can
store audio and/or video data. User B operates computing device 82.
Computing devices 80 and 82 can be mobile devices, notebooks, desktops,
servers, or other computing devices. Users A and B connect to server 86
over a network 84 such as the Internet. Network 84 can comprise a
plurality of separate networks using a variety of communication mediums,
such as hardwired connections, wireless connections, etc. In this
example, server 86 operates a website, such as social networking website
or another website that permits users to exchange content.

[0040]User A then shares audio/video clip 90 with User B through server
86. User A can do this, for example, by posting audio/video clip 90 on
his personal page on a social networking website hosted on server 86,
such that User B and other users can hear/see the clip when they visit
User A's personal page, either automatically, by clicking on an icon
(such as a play button), or by some other method. User A also can send
audio/video clip 90 to User B through the communication mechanism of the
social networking website, such as by sending a message, email, "gift,"
"poke," or other methods facebook® currently offers the ability for
one user to send another user a "gift," such as a graphical icon of a
flower or box of candy, or to "poke" (using a facebook® application
called "superpoke" offered by slide.com or other applications) by sending
a short graphical animation, such as a depiction of the sender throwing a
sheep at the recipient. Under this embodiment, User A would be enabled to
transmit his or her audio/video clip 90 to User B, such as by sending a
"gift" or "poking" User B. User B can then store audio/video clip 90 on
his or her computing device as audio/video clip 90a. In this manner, User
A is able to share his or her audio/video clip 90 with User B through a
website operated by server 86, such as a social networking website or
another website that enables users to exchange content. Audio/video clip
90a can be identical to audio/video clip 90, or it can be a modified
version of it (such as a shorter version, a compressed version, a lower
fidelity or lower resolution version, etc.).

[0041]If computing device 82 is a mobile device (such as a cellular
handset), there are a number of different mechanisms by which it can
receive audio/video clip 90 from computing device 80. For example, server
86 can send a text message using SMS to computing device 82 (e.g., "You
have received an audio clip from User A. Click this link to access.").
User B can then access audio/video clip 90 by clicking the link, which
typically would launch a website browser that would enable User B to
access audio/video clip 90. In the alternative, server 86 can send a
message using MMS to computing device 82 (e.g., "You have received an
audio clip from User A. Click here to listen.") MMS enables the sender to
embed the actual audio or video content into the MMS message, so that the
message received by computing device 82 actually contains the audio/video
clip 90 within it, such that computing device 82 would not need to obtain
the clip from elsewhere and could begin playing the clip immediately upon
being instructed by the user to do so. In the alternative, server 86 can
simply send information to User B through normal website mechanisms (such
as by sending a message to User B's account within a social networking
website), and User B can access audio/video clip 90 on the website using
a browser on computing device 82.

[0042]If computing device 82 is a traditional desktop or notebook
computer, then it can receive audio/video clip 90 via a website, email
system, instant messaging system, or other communication mechanism.

[0043]Optionally, User B is provided with the ability to purchase
audio/video clip 90 to use as a ring tone on his or her own mobile
device, if User A has not already purchased that right for User B. This
can be facilitated by a button, link, or other mechanism on User A's
personal page on the social networking website that allows User B and
other users to purchase audio/video clip 90 to use as a ring tone on his
or her own mobile device, or it can be facilitated by a button, link, or
other mechanism in the message, email, "gift" or other communication
method by which User A sent the audio/video clip to User B. FIG. 8 shows
an exemplary user interface 100 that provides a user with the options
discussed above, namely, "Gift," "Buy," and "Edit." In another aspect of
the embodiment, a user can be provided the option of buying the entire
piece of content (e.g., an entire song) from which the audio/video clip
was taken.

[0044]In another embodiment, User A creates the audio/video clip 90 from
an application within the social network website. The application can
have a similar user interface as that shown in FIGS. 4A-4C. This
application can be created using HTML or other code that is embedded
within the social networking website.

[0045]In another embodiment, an audio/video clip created by a user is
disseminated to a plurality of destinations that in turn will use the
audio/video clip in an application or manner associated with a user. With
respect to FIG. 9, User A creates audio/video clip 112 on computing
device 110, using one of the mechanisms described previously. Computing
device 110 stores audio/video clip 112 in its memory or storage device.
User A's computing device 110 connects to server 114 over network 116.
Optionally, User A can create audio/video clip 112 on server 114 instead
of on computing device 110, or User A can do so with computing device 110
in conjunction with computing device 110. Server 114 stores audio/video
clip 112 or a modified version in its memory or storage device as
audio/video clip 112a. Server 114 in turn connects to server 118 and
server 120 over network 116. Network 116 can be the Internet or any
combination of networks.

[0046]In this embodiment, when User A creates audio/video clip 112,
computing device 110 provides that clip to server 114, which stores it or
a modified version as audio/video clip 112a. Server 114 then
automatically provides that content to servers 118 and 120, which are
servers that store content or websites previously accessed or designated
by User A. For example, server 114 might operate a website that
facilitates the creation of audio/video clips for users, and servers 118
and 120 might operate a social networking website, email service, instant
message service, electronic bulletin board, or other service. Servers 118
and 120 then receive audio/video clip 112a or a modified version from
server 114 and then each stores it in its memory or storage device as
audio video clips 112b and 112c, respectively. Audio/video clips 112a,
112b, and 112c can be identical to audio/video clip 112, or any or all of
them can be modified versions of audio/video clip 112 (such as a shorter
version, a compressed version, a lower fidelity or lower resolution
version, etc.).

[0047]Server 114 performs the step of automatically providing audio/video
clip 112a as a result of a software application that is running on server
114 that has previously been configured by or on behalf of User A to
automatically provide audio/video clips to servers 118 and 120. For
example, User A can instruct server 114 through the software application
to automatically send the audio/video clip to servers 118 and 120
whenever User A sends a modified audio/video clip to server 114.
Computing device 110 can provide the audio/video clip 112 to server 114
using an API or other interface mechanism. Similarly, server 114 can
provide the audio/video clip 112a to servers 118 and 120 using an API or
other interface mechanism.

[0048]Using this embodiment, User A is able to have his or her personal
audio/video clip automatically updated on servers 118 and 120. This
audio/video clip can serve as a personal identifier for User A. For
example, if server 118 operates an instant messaging service (such as one
currently offered by Yahoo!®, available at www.yahoo.com), then when
User A sends an instant message to User B, User B can be prompted with a
text message indicating that User A is sending an instant message to User
B and/or User B can be prompted with audio/video clip 112a.

[0049]With reference now to FIG. 10, User A operates computing device 130.
User B operates computing device 132. Computing device 136 is a device
that stores data that is related to User B. For example, computing device
136 can be a server that hosts a social networking website on which User
B creates a user page containing data related to User B, such as a
customized audio/video clip, a photo of User B, information regarding
User B (such as his favorite movie, favorite book, favorite greeting,
favorite quote, etc.) User B inputs data 144 into computing device 136.
For example, User B can create an audio/video clip on computing device
132 using the methods illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 or by using a different
method, such as the prior art method of creating ring tones on computers
by accessing a website over a desktop or notebook computer. Computing
devices 130, 132, and 136 can be mobile devices, notebooks, desktops,
servers, or other computing devices. Computing devices 130 and 132 are
enabled to communicate with one another by device 134. Device 134 can be
a computing device or any device that enables network, voice, cellular,
or data communication. Computing devices 130 and 132 connect to device
134 over a network or link 138. Device 134 can communicate with computing
device 136 over network or link 140. Computing device 130 can communicate
with computing device 136 over network or link 142. Network or link 138,
140, and 142 each can comprise a plurality of separate networks or links
using a variety of communication mediums, such as hardwired connections,
wireless connections, etc. Network or link 138, 140, and 142 each can be
part of the same network (such as the Internet), or they can be separate
networks or links, or they can overlap.

[0050]In the situation where computing devices 130 and 132 are mobile
handsets, User B uses computing device 132 to call User A on computing
device 130. Device 134 recognizes computing device 132 as the initiating
device of the call (by using the prior art "caller ID" feature" or other
method). Device 134 then accesses computing device 136 and searches for
any data 144 previously stored there by User B and/or stored there in a
manner that associates the data with computing device 132. If device 134
finds such data, it downloads it from computing device 136 and sends all
or part of it to computing device 130. Computing device 130 stores data
144 as data 144a (which is either identical to data 144 or is a revised
version of data 144 or a portion thereof) in its memory or storage
device. Computing device 130 then alerts User A that User B and/or
computing device 132 is calling by playing and/or displaying data 144a.
For example, if data 144a includes a ringtone, computing device 130 can
play the ringtone. If data 144a includes a photo, computing device 130
can display the photo.

[0051]In the alternative, device 134 can send identifying information
(such as caller ID information) to computing device 130, and computing
device 130 can communicate directly with computing device 136 to search
for and obtain data 144. Once it obtains data 144, computing device 130
stores it as data 144a, and it can operate in the same manner described
previously.

[0052]The embodiment shown in FIG. 10 and described above has the benefit
of enabling User A to hear a ringtone customized by User B and to see
data that is specific to User B, such as his or her photo. User B can
modify the ringtone or data without involving User A or computing device
130, yet User A will still be able to hear/see the modified data when
User B calls User A. This can be an interesting way for people to share
clips of their favorite music with one another, or to share new photos.
For example, if User B is traveling around the world, each time User B
calls User A, he can send a new photo that he previously uploaded to
computing device 136 to show User A a new aspect of User B's travels.

[0053]While the foregoing has been with reference to particular
embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in
the art that changes in these embodiments may be made without departing
from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is
defined by the appended claims.